Now imagine for a moment that you could ride the light rail from Brookfield or UW-M or King Drive, transfer at the InterModal station downtown, and continue on to Chicago via Amtrak, or south on the Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee commuter line?

Oh...I forgot...that wouldn't work here, because no one will ride the train.

In yet another case of sockpuppetry (this is the fourth conservative that I've learned of in the past month or so, who practices in this deception-although methinks now two of them might be the same person), we see Fischer losing it on his blogs.

Some conservatives just don't pick accurate names for their blogs. Apparently, Kevin Fischer is one of them. He calls his place "This Just In." He also touts his supposed journalistic and media credentials. The title he chose, as well as his bio, would make one think that he is breaking news and giving rare insights.

Nothing could be farther than the truth.

Not only does Fischer have an apparent problem with protocol dealing with fair use, but he also has a problem breaking news, or getting it accurate.

Example one would be his lamentations of Franklin's parade not having a band in it. The post is dated June 27th. Ironically, he links to another FranklinNOW blogger, Janet Evans, who first caught the story, but then updated her post, twice, to show that the parade would have a band. Also, Greg Kowalski has the "breaking news". His post is dated June 27th as well.

Yet, at the time of this writing, there has been no second post, nor an update on Fischer's blog. And this is in spite of a commenter telling him in the comment thread of Fischer's post.

This is not the first time something like this happened either. Fischer had a post back on Sunday, June 22, remarking on the decline of Serb Hall. This was stemming from an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that appeared two days earlier.

The problem there is that yours truly, capper, broke it a full two weeks before the MSJ did.

If this is what he calls "just in", he would be better off not crowing about his media and journalism skills. We already know where that can get a person.

Community leaders said in a conference Wednesday that negative comments in the media toward the formation of a regional transit authority or extensive rail service here make movements toward those efforts more difficult.

The leaders, who were part of a panel discussing how to overcome the political boundaries of establishing an RTA at the Community Development Summit hosted by the Urban Economic Development Association of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, said editorials in newspapers across the region have portrayed the effort in a negative light and talk radio personalities have unfairly condemned the idea.

In particular they repeatedly referenced a June 18 editorial column in The Freeman by talk radio personality Mark Belling in which he referred to mass transit users as “the fringe” and said transit issues fit into the “seven words you can’t say on talk radio.”

“I’m absolutely amazed by the negativity of people here,” said Donald Sykes, president and CEO of the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board.

Panelists said there are a lot of social and political boundaries halting the RTA in the eyes of the public and misconceptions cause a divide between citizens and businesses on the issue. Regional perceptions such as the stereotype of Waukesha County residents being unwilling to allow urban African-Americans into their community were also cited.

They said local lawmakers are also failing to listen to businesses in favor of rhetoric, which deepens the political divide.

It's true. Despite many business leaders, community leaders, and even a conservative transit authority have said that Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin will be in a world of economic hurt if something isn't done quickly to improve the transit system, the local squawkers keep their rants going. They would sacrifice the community they are supposedly standing up for, all for the sake of a couple of rating points.

Apparently, McKenna went on some ranting rampage that people that feel a little responsibility to the world and the people around them have a shortage in the morality department, calling them "evil people." She then made her feelings truly known. Per Mr. Rowen:

Then amplified the description as "evil, evil people," among "the most evil people" ever, who "want to kill us, I swear to God, they want us dead."

Some words of advice to James, though. You would be best off being careful around her. She's a prize winner, you know. Also, James, as a friend speaking here, are you sure listening to all this talk radio is good for your mental and emotional health?

In a post that looks like it was written by one of Whallah's regular authors, Milwaukee Social Worker, starts out hot with a title of "Where to start: The Lunacy of Kevin Fischer." And then MSW just turns up the heat:

As many of my fellow bloggers have noted on many occasions, Mr. Fischer is a disgrace to bloggers, Republicans, and humans everywhere. See his recent post supposedly about the primary function of the Federal Government. As you read this, I am sure you will observe that he is really not trying to discuss the function of the Federal government. His primary intent is to bash liberal bloggers, demonstrate his ignorance related to social programs and intervention, and defend the current Bush Administration without merit. While the blogosphere is open to all walks of life (and opinions), he claims to be credentialed, supported be [sic] Legislator Mary Lazich, and worthy of broadcast television. I am shocked that anyone would pay him for these opinions. At least Ann Coulter is somewhat more logical and introspective. Fischer only demonstrates his huge ego and his belief in his own opinions over respect and concern for others.

There was a certain twitter in the Quesosphere when it was revealed that Al Franken's corporation had misfiled certain state Income Taxes. That foofoorah was soon cleared up, as well it should have been. The levy by each state on performers and athletes is an accounting nightmare that should be remedied by some form of reciprocity but it is, after all what it is and Franken owed and paid the tax.

Then there was the Olbermann Tax flare. Based on one gossip note from one columnist in a paper owned by one of Keith Olbermann's main competitors we saw OUTRAGE! Of course, that story died in a fizzle of facts soon after and we haven't heard a word about it since.

Now we have the latest scofflaw story and I, for one, just can't wait to see the fighting keyboarders of the Cheddarsphere swing into their well-rehearsed high-dudgeon mode and unleash the fury of the torture of the nibbling ducks upon the miscreant.

AFP(fs) has been honing the swift sword of skewering and should be ready to pounce, pounce I say, upon this scofflaw who would steal from the pockets in the gown of Liberty. I look for these newly minted conservative bloggers to don the mantle of their elders and betters and charge headlong into battle against...

Well, heck. We'll never hear a word about this innocent little misunderstanding from the forces of indignant righteousness. If we do they'll point out, quite rightly, that the McCains sent a check a soon as Newsweek asked them about the debt glossing giddily over the fact that the check was short. Rich Republicans can't be bothered by petty inconveniences like civic responsibility. Besides, it's easy to miss a tax notice for four years.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

As I first reported this morning, FranklinNOW blogger and legislative aide Kevin Fischer is quite fond of cutting and pasting entire passages written by other authors, in violation of the Fair Use doctrine.

Curious to know whether the folks who run the NOW websites condone this kind of plagiarism, I emailed Mark Maley, the NOW Online Editor:

I'm writing this email to express my concern regarding repeated violations of the Fair Use doctrine by Kevin Fischer, a blogger on the FranklinNow website. In his blog on your website, Mr. Fischer has repeatedly posted large segments of material taken from other authors, a fact that seems to be in direct violation of the Fair Use doctrine as explained by the United States Copyright Office, which states in part:

The 1961 Report of the Register of Copyrights on the General Revision of the U.S. Copyright Law cites examples of activities that courts have regarded as fair use: "quotation of excerpts in a review or criticism for purposes of illustration or comment; quotation of short passages in a scholarly or technical work, for illustration or clarification of the author's observations; use in a parody of some of the content of the work parodied; summary of an address or article, with brief quotations, in a news report; reproduction by a library of a portion of a work to replace part of a damaged copy; reproduction by a teacher or student of a small part of a work to illustrate a lesson; reproduction of a work in legislative or judicial proceedings or reports; incidental and fortuitous reproduction, in a newsreel or broadcast, of a work located in the scene of an event being reported."

Here's a list of just a few of Mr. Fischer's blog entries which I believe violate Fair Use, and I would appreciate you taking a look at the entries in question and providing me with your opinion on whether you feel the entries in question violate Fair Use.

As first reported by Cindy over at Fairly Conservative, our old friend Kevin Fischer seems to be up to some old tricks. Apparently Kevin, the crack journalist that he is, can't seem to understand - or just doesn't care - that cutting and pasting large portions of works written by other authors is a violation of the Fair Use doctrine, as outlined by the U.S. Copyright Office:

The 1961 Report of the Register of Copyrights on the General Revision of the U.S. Copyright Law cites examples of activities that courts have regarded as fair use: "quotation of excerpts in a review or criticism for purposes of illustration or comment; quotation of short passages in a scholarly or technical work, for illustration or clarification of the author's observations; use in a parody of some of the content of the work parodied; summary of an address or article, with brief quotations, in a news report; reproduction by a library of a portion of a work to replace part of a damaged copy; reproduction by a teacher or student of a small part of a work to illustrate a lesson; reproduction of a work in legislative or judicial proceedings or reports; incidental and fortuitous reproduction, in a newsreel or broadcast, of a work located in the scene of an event being reported."

Now I'm not a journalist, but even I know that the kind of wholesale plagiarism shown by Kevin Fischer is simply unethical for someone who does claim to be a journalist. Further, the fact that Kevin Fischer feels he needs to resort to ripping off the writing of others shows just how lazy and intellectually bankrupt he really is. Then again, given his propensity for spouting whatever the conservative talking points happen to be at that time he writes his entries, I'm not entirely shocked he's chosen to take shortcuts.

Well, at least we don't have to worry about Kevin winning a Pulitzer Prize anytime soon.

EDIT: Here's the response I got from Mark Maley, the NOW Online Editor, when I asked if he was okay with Fischer's Fair Use violations:

Zachary:You'll have to take this up with Kevin Fischer, who is responsible for the content of his own blog.

Friday, June 27, 2008

US Rep Virgil Goode of Virginia has informed constituents via letter that he's not just against illegal immigration. He wants legal immigration stopped as well if it would mean that we were letting in people who don't look like he does.

We need to stop illegal immigration totally and reduce legal immigration and end the diversity visas policy pushed hard by President Clinton and allowing many persons from the Middle East to come to this country. I fear that in the next century we will have many more Muslims in the United States if we do not adopt the strict immigration policies that I believe are necessary to preserve the values and beliefs traditional to the United States of America and to prevent our resources from being swamped.

Goode (rhymes with rude) also has a problem with those who would live out the tenets of their religion.

In a letter sent out to select supporters earlier this month reacting to the controversy (among certain extreme conservatives, at least) over Muslim representative-elect Keith Ellison's (D-MN) decision to be sworn in on the Koran, Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA) warned that the U.S. must close its borders to guard against the influx of still more Muslims. In it, he also proudly recounts his retort to a Muslim student who asked him why he did not include the Koran with The Ten Commandments on his wall. "As long as I have the honor of representing the citizens of the 5th District of Virginia in the United States House of Representatives, The Koran is not going to be on the wall of my office," he says he told the student.

Do you suppose that anybody will tell Ol' Virg that our allies in Iraq, Indonesia, Turkey and Saudi Arabia are Muslims? Or would that be just a little too much fact for a Good Old Racist to swallow?

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Charlie Sykes was on another one of his irresponsible tirades today, asking why should taverns and liquor stores even be required to be licensed. His brilliant solution was to deregulate the whole business. He couldn't understand why there would need to be some kind of control in this regard.

Obviously, he must have forgotten about all the shootings that have been happening at bars and nightclubs, even though he sure mentions them enough. He also must think things like this story is just dandy:

Man pleads guilty to killing West Allis couple

A 49-year-old Franklin man who killed a husband and wife on their way to a family gathering on Christmas has pleaded guilty to two counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle.

Gary Kitchen, 53, and his wife, Barbara, 52, of West Allis, were standing outside their truck when a van driven by Eddie Lynn Keck struck them. Keck had been drinking for hours at a nearby tavern just before he struck the Kitchens, according to court records. Witnesses said he could barely walk when he left the tavern, according to the records.

Keck told police he was looking for his cell phone on the floor of his van when the accident occurred. He said he thought he hit a mailbox and did not stop.

On Charlie's show today, he was going on about how math teachers are ill prepared to teach math in schools today. I did not catch the whole drift, as that I was driving in between appointments, but Owen Robinson was kind enough to post on it, and provide us with a link to the article.

Sykes, as is his wont, went on a strange tangent, and started to say how all teachers should specialize in their given field, whether it be math, English, science, or what have you.

My question is would he hold teachers at his beloved charter schools to the same standards? And what about home schooled children? Would he require the parents to be have degrees in all of these subjects?

So says global warming expert James T. Harris in one of his "Hip Musings." Obviously James T. doesn't put much stock in what scientists like the folks over at NOAA have to say about the greenhouse effect as a contributor to global warming:

The greenhouse effect is unquestionably real and helps to regulate the temperature of our planet.

[...]

Human activity has been increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere (mostly carbon dioxide from combustion of coal, oil, and gas; plus a few other trace gases). There is no scientific debate on this point.

Now call me crazy, but I put a lot more stock in what scientists like the smart folks over at NOAA have to say about global warming than I do in the rantings of chronic blasphemer who thinks he owns his children.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

First, let me apologize for my absence, put I have been busy with a few projects. I have two done, including, for now, my work on the northern castle. I have no idea where everyone else is.With a dozen contributors, one would think there would be an occasional posting, but...

Anyway, here is a collection of Whallah! worthy posts from around the cheddarsphere:

Jay Bullock points out that Charlie and is cronies are less than factual in their smear jobs.

The mighty Brawler points out that Belling is part of the lunatic fringe, by thinking that mass transit is a concern of only a fringe group of people. Brawler continues with his streak by pointing out that Sykes latest rampage is a more than a bit heavy in the racism department. And following with the Sykes theme, he questions what city Sykes refers to when he says only Milwaukee is suffering in this crappy economy.

Paul Soglin tries to do a psychoanalysis on both Sykes and Belling. That is a feat that not even a trained mental health professional would want to do.

Dan Cody takes on Jay Weber's misrepresentation of what happened with the FEMA voucher applications. He also explains that he learned, from squawk radio, that not even kids should be allowed to be healthy, if they can't afford their own insurance.

And Mike Mathias is waiting for an apology. I think Sykes or McIlheran should be one of the first in line to do so.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Regarding your comments about Ms. Donna Shalala in your "Quick Hit."Perhaps a "discernible reason" that President Bush proposes to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Donna Shalala was due to her service as the co-chairman (with Bob Dole) of the President's Commission on Care for America's Wounded Warriors. There is no disgrace in that sort of bipartisan public service. Bob Dole already has his Presidential Medal of Freedom -- it was awarded to him by President Clinton. Your "quick hit" more closely resembles a drive-by shooting.

I don't know if the comment link to your Three View blog post is operating . I sent in a comment that did not appear. Perhaps I unknowingly violated the guidelines for comment. I will study them anew. Or perhaps my comment did not appear for some other reason. Horne

The National Guard is coming to Janesville to help with the flood response. From the Gazette today.

Sheriff’s deputies have been staffing security checkpoints to limitpublic access to flooded areas, according to a press release from the sheriff’soffice. Deputies have been making frequent patrols of flooded areas.

Guard members will free deputies from patrolling the checkpointsand reduce deputies’ overtime, Spoden told the Gazette this morning.

Unarmed Guard members will work under the sheriff’s authority.Sworn sheriff’s personnel will continue to take necessary enforcement action,according to the press release.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

There's a drumbeat around the right side of the blogosphere that looks as if it originated at the Drudge that says that with all of the flooding in Iowa there's no looting or complaining in the Midwest. They never quite get around to using the word "shiftless" but you can see it right there like a watermark on their denials of racism.

Kevin "Not A Pulitzer Prize Nominee, But A Member Of The Press For Years" Fischer buys into the meme today like Horton hearing a Who. He links to a local blogger who has swallowed this tripe, hook, line and sinker. (When you get to the place in the comments where the blogger calls someone an "ass" that's where he deleted my attempt to enlighten him on what's really going on.)

Here's a couple of links just to set the tone. I'm sure you can find more without much effort. Just look around, Kev.

That includes the 113th cavalry from Sioux City and the 185th airrefueling wing. The 185th Iowa Air National Guard Unit patrol the streets along theflood line urging people to stay out of flooded areas. Air guardsman are along dozens of check points forming a perimeteraround the downtown area.They are directing traffic and also keeping an eye out forlooting.

By noon Sunday the Minneapolis and Hennepin County response teams wereat work in Cedar Rapids. The officers and deputies are working in areas ofCedar Rapids where the flood waters are receding to allow residents to return totheir homes on a limited basis.

Minnesota officers are helping to prevent looting and other theftin the flooded areas.On Monday, Dolan and Stanek announced another 20officers 10 deputies would be sent to Iowa this week

<<>>This is the media shaping your views. There is whining and lootinghappening in the midwest. It's just not being reported. The Red Cross is out of funds and borrowing to support the refugeesthere. People are being arrested for blowing through roadblocks....and thepolice are an actual presence....unlike in New Orleans where they were part ofthe problem.The good people of Louisiana, Alabama and Missisippi responded with asmuch courage and cooperation as the midwesterners. What do you know about therebuilding efforts there ?? Probably nothing.1800 people DIED in Katrina !!! What's it up to in themidwest...10 ??? The floods are awful, but they are not even 1% of thedevastation Katrina caused

Monday, June 16, 2008

Who knew that one post could tell us so much about the fragile psyche of Kevin Fischer? Zach's post from Sunday takes a look at how little Kev knows about the Constitution but let's take a look at what else the shrill shill spills.

He's got a crush on the Pornographer, Ann Coulter.

Liberals, if you gotten this far down in the blog (I doubt it) here’sCoulter’s entire column if you care to pick up any pointers on howa truly captivating writer does it.

He's captivated, simply captivated by her premise that GWB may be the ginchiest, most niftiest President ever, wever, ever. Why? Because there hasn't been a single attack on American soil since 9/11. That's why.

Ann Coulter writes about what I’ve been saying for years on radio and TV.George Bush has been amazing because after 9-11, he protected thiscountry……..PERIOD!

That's right. Bush has been a Daddy-President and he hasn't let anyone...What? What's that? Five people dead from an anthrax attack on Congress and several media outlets. Apparently, Kevin and Coulter put their heads together and decided that 5 dead isn't really enough to call it a terrorist attack. And Kevin's been saying it all along. Daddy is good.

What else can we learn from reading Fischer?

He's firmly mired in the 70's.

The incense and sandals crowd has no life, so to inject a bit of excitement,they read conservative blogs (like mine) and listen to conservative talk radioso they can rush to their keyboards ...

Kevin can't stand to believe that anybody but those damned dirty hippies might want to see that troops come home and our economy made whole.

We know he can't count.

I have a kajillion liberal friends and associates...

And doesn't understand his readers.

...(who, by the way, don’t want me to step in front of a train and don’thate me) who admit readily they love to read conservative blogs and listen toconservsative talk radio to, of course, hear what the other side is saying, butalso because it’s GOOD STUFF! THEY ARE INTERESTED! THEY ARE ENTERTAINED!

Memo to Kevin: People are entertained by all kinds of things that aren't really valuable. You can draw a pretty good crowd downtown just by flopping around on the sidewalk and hollering, "Potato, potato." People are just drawn to a train wreck to reaffirm their gratitude that they weren't involved. Sometimes they aren't laughing with you.

Throw in his lack of understanding of basic government principles, his pitiful strawman understanding of Liberals and his appalling lack of humility in the face of his inadequacies and you have a good look at a 51 year-old man using the power of his position and a major, once-influential newspaper to say a quick, "neener-neener" to the 74% of America that disagrees with Coulter and Kevin.

He's right about one thing, though. It's really hard to read all the way to the end of his posts when you have to stop to clean the schmutz off your shoes all the time.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Everyone's favorite legislative aide - Kevin Fischer - is up to his old tricks. In a recent blog entry, he asked the following question:

What is the key function of the federal government?

Is it:

1) To provide health insurance for everyone in the country, including jailed felons and illegal immigrants.

2) To provide cash payments from cradle to death for any number of reasons including inability to see the blackboard in the 4th grade and simply because my mother, her mother, and her mother’s mother also received welfare checks.

Following those questions, Fischer proceeded to engage in a George W. Bush love-fest, gushing about how our esteemed President has kept us so safe since 9-11, while conveniently ignoring the fact that George W. Bush failed to keep us safe on 9-11. After I responded by noting that fact to Fischer, he issued yours truly the following challenge:

You can, if you can respond to the issue of the function of the federal government, and President Bush's success at keeping our country safe from terrorists since 9-11.

Of course, I responded with this little ditty, copied right from the U.S. Constitution:

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Now call me crazy, but if that doesn't spell out the fact that it is in fact the job of our government to provide for the general welfare of Americans, then I don't know what does. Predictably, Kevin deleted my comment pointing out what the preamble of the Constitution says, presumably because he can't handle being wrong, and what's more, he especially can't handle being handed his proverbial ass by a liberal.

At any rate, Kevin Fischer should spend some time refreshing his memory on what the Constitution says, because a legislative aide to a Wisconsin State Senator should at least be vaguely familiar with what our nation's Constitution says.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

After I left Europe, I realized I’d used every form of transport - a taxi, a bus, a subway, a train, a boat ... even a gondola.

And then I arrived back in America and got back in my car, turning on talk radio. Really, what’s the other option?

Apparently she sees no irony in the fact that it is talk radio that has so politicized the issue and polluted the air in southeastern Wisconsin that it is impossible to have a rational conversation about rail.

More from McBride:

If we had a light rail system as effective as those in Europe,I’d ride it. We can quibble over the type and costs, but conservatives should join together with liberals and come up with a public transportation improvement plan.

Maybe she could start by talking with her candidate for governor, Scott Walker, who believes the ideal transportation system is for everyone to drive a car.

Citing columnist George Will,Cheney on Wednesday told the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that "oil is being drilledright now 60 miles off the coast of Florida. We're not doing it. The Chinese arein cooperation with the Cuban government."

''Even the communists havefigured out that a good answer to high prices is more supply,'' he added. "YetCongress has said . . . 'no' to drilling off Florida.''

Except, of course, they didn't really. Well, what's one lie more or less to this bunch?

Friday, June 13, 2008

Because he doesn't much care for his neighbors. He rants about proposed limits on yard sales.

Based on the recommendations of some bureaucrat who has nothing betterto do than to try to justify his position, the city of Racine is consideringimposing all sorts of restrictions on rummage sales because, as everyone knows,if there’s any unscrupulous activity the public’s involved in that needsthorough government regulation, it’s the yard sale.Racine wants to limit when you can hold the sales, how many days youcan drag your trinkets out onto your own yard, and restrict the signage you putup to promote your attempt to sell your wares.You can’t make this stuff up, it’s laughable.

It's clear that Fischer doesn't get out much or pay much attention if he does. All it takes to get a law passed is a few people to act like pigs. Kev's apparently not seen a yard looking like a flea market for 4 days a week for the 16 weeks of Summer.

There are one or two places in every village and more in every city that turns the yard into Maxwell street for the season and turns the street into their own private parking lot.

If you want to have one or even two yard sales a year I say, "Welcome to the headaches." I'll be attending yours instead of running my own. But if you want to turn this into a flea market or a car lot I'll be saying, "No thanks. This is a residential neighborhood."

Thursday, June 12, 2008

He also laments at the amount of hatred that out there, and he comments on how "vicious and cruel" people can be:

I don’t believe people truly grasp the amount of hatred that’s out there. People are downright vicious and cruel, as I have received numerous hateful, harassing correspondences, even personal threats that have had to be investigated by authorities.

Now what I can't help but wonder is if Kevin Fischer would count himself among the "vicious and cruel" people out there, considering some of the cruel and personal attacks he's made on fellow bloggers. In case anyone's forgotten, let's just recap some of Kevin Fischer's favorite insults against fellow bloggers:

"By the way, where is Cheesecake Boy to defend himself now that he's a 21-year old man?

Oh, wait.

He has Mommy HAD TO COMMENT to do his dirty work for him."

"Note to Greg Kowalski's sisters:

If you know what's good for you, don't let big brother help you with spelling or English grammar."

Perhaps before Kevin Fischer starts lamenting about personal attacks and nastiness in the blogosphere, he should first examine his own behavior. After all, he's a 50-something year old grown man; perhaps he should start acting like it.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Dolt29 put up a post today about coathanger abortions. I'm sure he felt it was a strong argument against coat hangers or something, else he wouldn't post it. What he did do, whatever his intent may be, is prove himself to be capable of great insensitivity, and a general misunderstanding of women, and of mental health issues.

It's not the first time his insensitivity has shown through. He made the assertion that women in the military were being raped because they were women in the military. This the same miscreant that also seemed OK with a Christian cult in Texas to groom young girls to be sexually abused by much older men. Seems to be like a rationalization for misogyny, using the Church. But I digress.

He cites some site named "CosmoLiturgy" which makes the presumptuous claim that coathanger abortions are a myth, and the symbology of it was used by those dang liberals to justify abortion. I won't get into the whole abortion issue in this post, but it needs to be pointed out that the fabled folkbum proved that the assertion that coathanger abortions are a reality, whether or not the right wants to admit it.

What is equally as bad, if not worse, is the way he miscontstrues a serious psychiatric illness. He quotes the cited source:

Those who develop a Borderline Personality Disorder are predominately angry women (with histories of sexual abuse) who are consciously or subconsciously driven to deliver a hurtful revenge onto others. They typically have poor self images and are consequently highly sensitive to rejection and constantly haunted by the fear of being abandoned. As a result, they are willing to take drastic measures to avoid loneliness and solitude, which can often include self mutilation, suicide threats and attempts.

He then adds his own little quip:

It's a grown-up version of the 2-year-old's temper tantrum (albeit forthose who were abused, it is differently-caused.)

First of all, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a serious illness, with its own set of diagnostic criteria set forth by the DSM-IV. It can be caused not only by being sexually abused, but also by genetics and natural chemical imbalances in the brain. It also has many symptoms besides self-mutilation. These can include:

As you can see, nothing to be trifled with, and definitely more than a "temper tantrum". Most of the people with BPD that I've worked with did the cutting not only for attention, but to remind themselves that they are real, else they become too disconnected from the real world. Another reason was that they found the physical pain easier to deal with than the emotional suffering they are experiencing.

As I said earlier, I am not going into the whole abortion issue. He thinks it's wrong, and I can respect that. I don't personally necessarily disagree with that view, but that's for another time, another place.

What I do resent, and will not allow to pass, is when someone feels the need to minimize people with mental illnesses, of any sort, to justify their inexplicable need to oppress women, children, or anyone else. No matter their ulterior motives may be.

Dad, I don't know what your issues are, or if it's just some part of the Catholic indoctrination, or what, but you really ought to knock the crap off, before someone calls you "Dipshit29".

This is hard to swallow for a couple of reasons. One is that, per the government, the increases are coming in increments, the last one being nearly a year ago, and the other not due for over another month from now. Another reason is that the proof that minimum wage affects teenage employment levels is somewhat in doubt:

Supporters point to a controversial study by Princeton economists David Card and Alan Krueger of minimum wage employees in New Jersey, which found little or no impact on employment. Economist Robert Solow, an MIT Nobel Laureate, wrote in a 1995 New York Times article that the “main thing about the research is that the evidence of the job loss is weak.... And the fact that the evidence is weak suggests the impact on jobs is small.”

There are many more likely and realistic causes of a low employment rate for teens these days. One is that, thanks to Bush's failed economic policies (not to mention spending billions and billions of dollars on an unjust war), money is tight for everyone. Potential employers would be understandably reluctant to hire on any help when money is so tight.

Following this would be the fact that there is an ever increasing number of adults that are also scrambling for work, as overall unemployment rates continue to climb.

Adding to the economic crisis is the fact that such costs such as gasoline are reaching unprecedented levels, causing both consumers and businesses to cut back. This in turn cycles the unemployment issue, such as the recent announcement that GM is going to close their Janesville plant.

If a manufacturer can barely afford to get his product to market, he will not have the extra cash to hire on even part-time help. Likewise, if consumers are forced to cut way back on their spending to pay for necessities like health insurance and electricity, store owners will not even need, much less afford, to hire anyone of any age.

That is only common sense. But even common sense may be too much to ask of the local right wing media.

There are two mendacious claims here. The first is that Barack Obama’sfailure to realize that the Mt. Rushmore scene in North by Northwest was notfilmed on location is evidence that he doesn’t understand that movies aren’treal life. That’s ridiculous. All it proves is that Obama doesn’t know muchabout making movies — hardly a disqualification for the presidency.

The second claim is that St. Ronald Reagan, contrary to his (nodoubt liberal) critics, did understand that movies are make-believe. In fact,there is plentiful evidence that the late ex-President conflated film and reallife on numerous occasions.

But outside of accusing Paddy of mendacity she cuts him some slack.

Next time McIlheran wants to slam Obama, he might think about having moreevidence for his claims; next time he wants to defend Reagan, he might do someresearch first. (I here give him the benefit of the doubt — something he rarelygives liberals — and assume he was not deliberately lying.)

Monday, June 9, 2008

We at Whallah! may spoof, satirize, fisk, or just laugh at the right wing squawkers, but sometimes it is time to be serious. One of the squawkers appears to have come down with a serious psychiatric condition. There is no known cure, except rest, relaxation, and repeated exposures to reality.

Please help poor old PaddyMac out. He is suffering from Obamaphobia, and there is little time to help him. He may not survive long enough to see a Walmart SuperCenter and UrgiCare on every corner without your help.

UPDATE: Don't delay! Experts have had to be called in. The situation is much more grave this morning. PaddyMac needs your help!

There's an old definition of chutzpa that explains it's a man who murders his parents and then begs the mercy of the court because he's an orphan.

There's a new definition now. Chutzpa is a man with a daily talk radio show on a station owned by a newspaper who writes a syndicated column and enjoys a weekly TV show and then bitches about the media restricting his viewpoint.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

This issue was emailed to me a while ago by a faithful reader, and I wasn't sure if I would use it or not. But given the previous post here, I feel that is would be relevant as well.

According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, intellectual property in the Intertubes is still a vague area, with no set rules, but there are guidlines. According to their FAQ page, here is a rule of thumb for quoting people, posts or articles:

There are no hard and fast rules for fair use (and anyone who tells you that a set number of words or percentage of a work is "fair" is talking about guidelines, not the law). The Copyright Act sets out four factors for courts to look at (17 U.S.C. § 107):

The purpose and character of the use. Transformative uses are favored over mere copying. Non-commercial uses are also more likely fair.

The nature of the copyrighted work. Is the original factual in nature or fiction? Published or unpublished? Creative and unpublished works get more protection under copyright, while using factual material is more often fair use.

The amount and substantiality of the portion used. Copying nearly all of a work, or copying its "heart" is less likely to be fair.

The effect on the market or potential market. This factor is often held to be the most important in the analysis, and it applies even if the original is given away for free. If you use the copied work in a way that substitutes for the original in the market, it's unlikely to be a fair use; uses that serve a different audience or purpose are more likely fair. Linking to the original may also help to diminish the substitution effect. Note that criticism or parody that has the side effect of reducing a market may be fair because of its transformative character. In other words, if your criticism of a product is so powerful that people stop buying the product, that doesn't count as having an "effect on the market for the work" under copyright law.

Since I know that Fischer reads this blogsite, I would strongly advise him to take heed, especially when he puts up posts like the one previously discussed.

Now, being in the field, I know that many people will try to malinger, or fake a mental illness to try to get out of trouble. If that is the case, Mr. Marzilli deserves to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, and punished accordingly. If Mr. Marzilli is truly mentally ill, then he can be charged, but not to punish, but to enforce that he receives treatment. If the court in Virginia had done that, the VT tragedy may not have occurred. But this man's mental health status is for the court, and the court's experts, to decide. Not me. And definitely not Fischer.

But was does he write about Mr. Marzilli? He writes this tripe (emphasis mine):

What reaction did you have, other than the guy's a pervert?

Now, since one is presumed innocent until proven guilty, why should someone with a mental health issue be labeled a pervert? For all I know, he might be. But until an evaluation is completed, there is no way of knowing.

That is why I had chosen not to write, until now, about Fischer's three DWI charges. First of all, for all I know, Fischer may be an alcoholic, and a recovering one. If so, I support him in his efforts. But I do know for a fact that he still drinks alcohol. But without knowing whether or not he was an alcoholic, it would be irresponsible for me to call him just a cheap drunk, wouldn't it?

As I am trying to do some research, I foolishly have the radio on. James T. Harris is trying to do a fear and smear routine against Senator Barack Obama.

He is calling for people to sound off on whether he should continue to refer to the Senator at "the Chocolate Jesus." (It always struck me as highly hypocritical that a man that professes to be such a good Christian and puts all the blame on "not having God in your life," would not take the Bible seriously.)

Of course, his audience is not the most representative sampling of the people that one could hope for. So here is your opportunity to go ahead and let James know if you feel it's OK to do this or not. Just keep the comments appropriate folks, that's all I ask.

Despite Sykes and McIlheran always and defending the profiteering of the gas and oil companies, I would scoff at this, and complain here and there about how they are going to ruin our way of life with their exorbitant gasoline prices. I felt that these two, and AFP and all their members, were just trying to feed us lines when they said that Big Businesses in general weren't the ogres I thought them to be.

But I was wrong. And unlike Kevin Fischer, I am man enough to admit when I made a mistake.

Especially when their is photographic proof that Big Oil is not as heartless as I thought them to be:

Friday, June 6, 2008

Scott Walker took time out of his busy day to privatize another email to Charlie. Scott thinks that things are "Out of Control!" in Milwaukee. He makes a call for change, dammit, change.

We need the public to help identify these criminals.We need judges tocrack down and give these criminals hard sentences in the state prison system.We need parents who hold their children accountable.We need church andcivic leaders who demand that teenagers stop having children before they areadults.We need a greater sense of personal responsibility and we need itnow.

"If only," Scott laments, "we had leaders to show us the way."

I, for one, am ready to stand with the Sheriff and the Police Chief and anyother leaders who are willing to crack down on crime and restore public safetythroughout our community.

Um, Scott. You are and have been in charge for a while now. Whatcha been doin'?

Maybe a little less "Standing ready" and a little more "Leading" is called for. Maybe taking less time from your day to write emails to radio shows would be helpful.

Last summer when Scott Walker - County ("The Bus Stops Here") Executive, unflappable manager of his biggest failure, Milwaukee County Transit, inept quarterback during the 4th quarter demise of Milwaukee, elected on a promise toJust Say No - asked his staff to work up a proposal for reducing bus service by14% and raise fares (not service) to New York levels, Bay View Riders raised thepot.

H/T to Pundit Nation for the above. I think SocratesChildren will quickly become one of my favorites.

I warned you about this a month ago. Today is the day that the American Life League will be starting a protest against the pill. Their plan is bullying, misinformation, and the desire to control you in your own bedroom, whether your single or married.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Now I'm no expert, but our old pal James T. Harris seems to be having a bit of a mid life crisis regarding the candidacy of Senator John McCain:

No.

I will not do this again. I will not fight for another old candidate who thinks it’s his turn. Bob Dole used me up. I’ve got nothing left for John McCain.

Plus, he is no conservative.

He’s got no fight! What I’ve seen over the last two days is more ineffective compassionate conservatism.

Blah!

That speech Tuesday night SUCKED! IT SUCKED!!!! NO! I WILL NOT DO IT!

IT’S OVER!!!!

I AM BACK ON THE WALL, PEOPLE! BACK ON THE DAMN WALL!

His back is against the wall people...don't push him! He might just go postal!

In all seriousness, I can understand why James T. would be a little upset. If my party's candidate looked as ghastly as John McCain did when he was giving his speech on Tuesday night, I'd be upset too.

With a voice vote that confirmed the near-unanimous sentiment of senators who had heard from hundreds of thousands of Americans demanding that they act, the legislators moved to nullify an FCC attempt to permit a radical form of media consolidation: a rule change designed to permit one corporation to own daily and weekly newspapers as well as television and radio stations in the same local market.

Of course, in Milwaukee we live in a different dimension, where one company already owns the only daily newspaper, a television station, AM and FM radio stations, and a flock of suburban weeklies.

It's what the talkers on their radio station like to call the free market.

Both Harris and McIlheran talk about the sad news of GM closing their plant in Janesville.I won't get into McIlheran's post, because I don't have sufficient amounts of cold medicine to be able to make sense of his weird train of thought, except that he somehow figures Barack Obama is happy people are losing their jobs. (If you have extra cold medication, or hallucinegenic drugs, send them to me, and I will try to figure out his post.)

Harris is much more blunt. It is those evil Unions. Of course, he can't figure out that the only reason he is where he is now, due to Union members fighting for living wages, safe working condidtions, and a reasonable work week.

He also seems to miss the fact that G. Richard Wagoner, CEO of GM, made over $11 million dollars, in 2006 alone. And that was for not being able to figure out that the market has been steadily moving towards more fuel efficient cars. Not a bad job to have, if you can get it.

When I saw Sykes' post titled "Cops Still Waiting For Apology", I thought he was referring to my piece here, pointing out that Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker owes an apology, and whole helluva lot more, to the four corrections officers that he scapegoated.

But I was wrong. It was just another attemtped dig at the next President of the United States, Barack Obama. And even his listeners Whallahed him, when they provided these links to other media outlets covering the story.

From the first link (emphasis mine):

Brennan, who controlled the crowd near the Portland Police Memorial, noticed several Porta Potties set up in the middle of the memorial. Brennan had been at the site five days earlier for an annual memorial service and a flag was still set at half mast on the day of the rally.

My question is if he was bothered that much, why didn't he say something when he first saw them, and not almost a week later, after the event?

James seems to be having some sort of influence on him, though. Today, James shares something he heard on Sykes show. Something I wouldn't have believed if most anyone else had said it. Sykes showed a glimmer of common sense. About rail nonetheless.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Kevin Fischer is an award-winning veteran broadcaster who has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for nearly three decades. Kevin, who is a legislative aide to state Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin), can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, “INTERchange,” on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, in Franklin.

That would make one think that Mr. Fischer knows a thing or two about reporting news. Even little things, like fact checking.

Then again, one would be wrong.

Fischer has a post warning motorists of a new crime wave hitting Milwaukee, in which would-be carjackers put a piece of paper on the back window of a car. The unsuspecting driver doesn't notice the paper, for some reason, until he or she is about to back up. When they go to investigate the paper, the thieves strike!

You know it's real. Fischer tells us so:

A Milwaukee Police officer is circulating an e-mail to alert citizens of a new tactic being used by carjackers. The e-mail has been verified to be legitimate.

Obviously, since Fischer said it's true, it's true. And Snopes.com, who claims it's a false email, with an almost verbatim copy of Fischer's email, said it's been going around for four years.

Just for the record...let's remember that in 1997, it was then-Gov. Tommy Thompson, The Man Who Loved Trains And Later Yearned To Be US Secretary ofTransportation, who killed his administration's light rail plan for Milwaukee.

Had Tommy stood up to the local conservative talk radio hosts who still use "light rail" as an all-purpose anti-urban code phrase, workers and students commuting from Waukesha could be riding the rails with some of that $4-gallon gas money in their pockets.

And for your homework, call or email Charlie, Jeff and Mark, and tell them thanks, and ask them where you can submit your request for reimbursement for the exorbitant amounts of money your paying for gasoline these days. I'm sure those fine, upstanding, take responsibility guys will stand up and do the right thing and pay us back for the consequences of their short-sightedness.

Did anybody else see the humor in the way Paul Ryan opened the McCain "Town hall" rally last Thursday?

Ryan who has been in Washington for 5 terms including stints on the House Budget and Ways and Means committees was bitching about Washington being broken. It's been broken through 7 years of Republican leadership, 7 years of destroying the Clinton budget surpluses and crushing the American Housing and Energy markets.

And who did Ryan bring to the stage after telling us how the leadership in Washington had failed us? He brought to the stage a man who has been in Washington for 26 years, a man that even Republicans have said wasn't a strong enough candidate to be President, a man clueless about the solution, albeit a rehashed one, that Paul Ryan had offered up to make up for the mess they've made in Washington. The best that Paul Ryan had to offer last week was John McCain.

First a review of recent history in the ongoing sequences of selective outrage by the right wing.

Last fall, it was Miller's secret agenda to make everyone into homosexual bondage fanatics by imitating a famous painting.

Then about a month ago, it was a crusade against a comedian, who dared to make a Catholic joke, and his diabolical sponsors.

The most recent antic was the outrage at Dunkin Donuts and Rachel Ray, because she wore a scarf.

Then I remembered a recurring bit of selective outrage silliness. There are some who are mortally offended by the fact that the memorial to Flight 93 has a red crescent-shaped structure included in it. This outrage has been going on for years.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

But that apparently isn't true if the elephant is a Republican. All across the right side of the cheddarsphere, squawking bloggers and blogging squawkers are chuckling themselves silly with the pictures and videos of Hillary Clinton Supporters that were upset with the way the DNC handled the Michigan and Florida primaries.

I still remember how these same squawking bloggers and blogging squawkers were all up in arms as John McCain was nearing clinching the Republican nomination. They were stating that there was no way they would be able to vote for McCain. They would rather switch to one of the Democrats, or just sit it out. Who can forget the goofy Ann Coulter attacking McCain on the Hannity and Colmes show, and threatened to campaign for Hillary Clinton:

It had gotten so bad that even Sykes had to start putting up posts and wasting air time to try to get the conservative faithful back to the mother ship party and get willing to vote for McCain in November, even if they had to "hold their noses" while doing it.

Wow, what commitment on their side!

Those Republicans not only have lousy memories, their insight is more than a bit myopic as well.

Kevin Fischer is all smug about his show, Interchange. He alludes to Joel McNally scoffing at his assertions that Scott McClellan is a liberal. His evidence is this link, which McClellan states he is "intrigued" by Senator Obama, and "may vote for him". Ooh, that makes him a liberal for sure, right?